International students looking to transition from an F-1 visa to an H-1B visa will be exempt from the recently announced $100,000 fee, according to the latest guidance released by US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS).

This follows the announcement by the US government in September of a new employer sponsorship fee of $100,000 for the H-1B visa. The proclamation prompted uncertainty about who would be affected by the change, however new guidance has confirmed that the fee would not apply to a “change of status”. This would therefore include F-1 visa holders transitioning to an H-1B visa, which is the most common situation for international MBA and master's students in the US. 

Who is affected by the H-1B visa changes?

The USCIS clarification stated that the fee would only apply to new H-1B petitions for people outside the US, either filed on or after September 21st, 2025. Those seeking an extension, amendment, or change of status will not be affected by the fee, as long as the change is approved by USCIS. The government also confirmed that a change of employer petition is exempt from the new ruling.

For those with approved H-1B visa applications already in the US, the fee will not be enforced if they travel abroad, USCIS confirmed.

What is the H-1B visa?

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant permit that allows highly skilled workers to live and work in the US on a temporary basis. H-1B visa holders can currently work in the US for up to three years following graduation, after which they can apply to extend their stay for a further three years.

The H-1B visa has historically been an essential pathway for international business students in the US looking to stay and work in the country after graduating. In 2025, 65,000 H-1B visas were available to highly skilled professionals looking to live and work in the US, with an extra 20,000 visas available for those with a master’s degree or higher. Around 400,000 visa applications were approved in total last year, with the majority granted to people renewing their visas.

Changes to the H-1B employer sponsorship fee

Employers must sponsor those applying for an H-1B visa and petition USCIS on their behalf. The fee, which previously cost $780, was increased to $100,000 in a proclamation by the US government in September. 

Many top employers have historically offered sponsorship to foreign MBA and business master’s students, including Amazon, which sponsored over 7000 visas in 2024. Alongside top tech companies, many startups and firms in other industries have also offered H-1B sponsorship opportunities, including Bytedance and TikTok.

USCIS has confirmed that the proposed change is a one-time fee that only applies to new H-1B visas, and will come into effect in the next upcoming lottery cycle in February 2026.